The Kit Kat Club is returning to Sydney and Melbourne in all its decadence for a new Australian revival of Cabaret playing at Sydney’s Hayes Theatre Co from 9 January, before touring to Melbourne’s The Athenaeum Theatre from 27 April 2017.
Joining the amazing Paul Capsis as Emcee and the already announced Kate Fitzpatrick (Fräulein Schneider) and Debora Krizak (Fräulein Kost) will be Australian actress, singer and leading lady of musical theatre Chelsea Gibb as Sally Bowles. After being told she had the role Chelsea said, “If someone were to offer me a pick of any role, out of all the roles in musical theatre, Sally Bowles has always been my answer. It’s literally my biggest career dream coming true, that I’m getting to play her!”
Directed by Nicholas Christo, with musical direction by Lindsay Partridge, and choreography by Kelley Abbey, the star studded cast also includes Marcus Graham as Ernst Ludwig, John O’May as Herr Schultz, Jason Kos as Clifford Bradshaw, Michelle Barr as Fritzi, Nick Jones as Victor, Matthew Manahan as Gottfried and Michelle Smitheram as Helga.
Winner of 12 Tony Awards, 8 Academy Awards and 7 BAFTA Awards, Cabaret wows audiences and critics alike time and time again sky-rocketing the careers its starts. Fifty years ago in 1966 the original Broadway production made a household name of Joel Grey who shook audiences as The Emcee. Two years later an unassuming Judi Dench stole the show as Sally Bowles on London’s West End. Arguably the most iconic movie musical of all time made a star of Liza Minnelli when she brought Sally Bowles to the silver screen directed by Bob Fosse.
Cabaret in its musical form is based on The Berlin Stories by famous author Christopher Isherwood who exchanged his upper-middle-class conservative upbringing for the sexual freedom and social liberation of Berlin during the bustling 1930s. Cabaret the musical, adapted by song and lyrics team Kander and Ebb, became a semi-biographical portrait of Isherwood’s life, celebrating life on the edge.
Cabaret
Hayes Theatre Co. 19 Greenknowe Avenue, Potts Point
Season: 9 January – 21 February 2017
Bookings: www.hayestheatre.com.au
The Athenaeum Theatre, 188 Collins Street, Melbourne
Season: 27 April – 20 May 2017
Bookings: www.ticketek.com.au
For more information, visit: www.CometotheCabaret.com.au for details.
Image: Chelsea Gibb to star as Sally Bowles in Cabaret (supplied)